Succes story!

[Hppd2022]

Hi guys another succes story here after 8 years of hppd. I will keep it short but feel free to send my a message if you have any specific questions. I feel like i owe you guys this, because i know how lost i was at the beginning. I my first years into hppd, i visited this forum regularly, but never posted something. I already appologize for my English.

I got HPPD in august of 2014 after using xtc on a festival. Did xtc max 3/4 times a year, never really abused it. 

In 2014 there was a lot less info about it on the internet, but i found out real quick that i had this condition. I had the whole list of symptoms: visual disturbances (visual snow, halos, after images, etc), tinnitus, hyponage hallucinations (weird hallucinations when you about to fall asleep), slight paranoia, brain fog, sleeping problems DP/DR. I struggled with this around 6 months alone until, i had the courage to tell my family about it. I thought i had fucked up my life; was in my first year of my bachelor BA and was convinced that i was never going to be able to finish school and have a normal functioning life (something what is very important in my social environment). Never had to put this on hold, luckily. Had to work little harder, because of brain fog/anxiety. After a while living more healthy, avoiding drugs, talking with psychologist and exercise. i saw a lot of improvement. I think in 2017 i only had some visual disturbances and tinnitus, when i was really tired or sick. For myself i considered this as being cured for 90/95%. My situation today is far better than i ever could imagine in 2014; finished my degree, got a good paying job in corporate life (already 5 years), beautiful relationship with my girlfriend and have bought a nice house. The last few years i didn’t even think about it and if feels like it is something of my past.  I am not going to put an whole essay here, but just want to give you some hope; there is light at the end of the tunnel! Keep strong and live healthy. U will do fine! 

Some experiences and things that were helpful for me:

• don’t read to much on the internet. Only positive things about recovery and how to improve healthy lifestyle. When i became obsessed with searching on the internet, had an negative effect on my symptoms and mental state,
• Stay of drugs; i did some cocaine occasionly last years, never gave me a relapse but i don’t recommend it, because i did read that for some people this caused a set back in their progress. 
• Maybe take some medication ssri (paroxetine did very well for me) or benzo to cope with anxiety
• Exercise a lot; this helped me a lot with reducing symptoms.
• Don’t focus to much on visual disturbances; i would always tell myself that a lot of people have this kind of things due to migraine, eye disease, high blood pressure, etc.
• You are not going crazy!! I was so scared for a long time that i was going into psychotic state, but it never happend!
• You can still do good in life and build a nice future; actually i became a lot more productive and motivated. I always was lazy but after hppd wanted to put in effort and became more grateful!
• I was in my beginning twenties when i got it and was in the middle of college part life phase. I still did this and got drunk sometimes, never had really negative effect. Only little bit more visual symptoms next day. 

Edited October 24, 2022 by Hppd2022

[Hppdsince22]

Hey,

Happy to hear your are good

Did you have all your symptoms after you noticed it for the first time?

Or have they developed over time?

[Hppd2022]

No, first two day no symptoms. Was triggered after a very vivid nightmare and can remember a very big brain zap at the festival. I think in two months i got all the symptoms and from there on it began to decrease (very slow).

[sp23]

hi i hope you are able to reply to this, i got hppd from acid gave me some dpdr followed by weed pen 2 weeks later things fully came on. at first was just head pressure and sensitivity to light and the vr, they thought i was having migraines or a concussion. over a few months more symptoms developed (static (vs) floaters, bfep etc) your situation seems very similar to mine, exercise helps me as a distraction but do you believe it actually helps visuals? im 7 months in taking lamotrigine and clonazepam. i fear not going the no prescription drugs route will hinder recovery but that might just be my anxiety and worry since both meds have been known to help symptoms the most. my static is only on walls and white surfaces and the floaters seems to have gotten a lot better. head pressure used to be 24/7 now it comes and goes. light sensitivity is gone, basically id like to get your opinion on my possible recovery and when u noticed the visuals to start going away the vs specifically. i would love to only get them when tired or sick, or complete recovery like some have claimed. thank you and i am glad your life sounds so wonderful

[Hppd2022]

Thanks for your message and sorry for the late reply! Haven’t been on this forum for the last half year (good sign).

I believed good nutrition exercise helped my visuals a lot, because of the increase of neurotransmitters and the fact that healthy diet and exercising benefits brain recovery. Also the SSRI Paroxetine has been very positive. I believe in the Netherlands they often prescribe them to people with HPPD!

I think the first overall improvement of visuals started after a year. I was more happy with reduced hyponage hallucinations, tinitus, brain fog.

I think the recovery is not about the visuals, but the most about your mental state and learn how to cope with. The visuals only are not scary, it’s the thought connected to it “i have brain damage, i fucked up my life” that triggers the anxiety.

Stay on this track and don’t forget to enjoy life!